Cardinals Get Physical in Practice No. 3
March 27, 2010 | Football
March 27, 2010
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Louisville football team put the pads on for the first for practice No. 3, and the Cardials proceeded to have a physical 28-period practice at the Howard Schnellenberger Football Complex Saturday during Junior Day.
Head coach Charlie Strong challenged the Cardinals' defense on Friday, wanting to see some toughness upfront on both sides of the football. The Cardinals practiced for nearly three hours, including a situational scrimmage for the last five periods of practice. Strong put th Cardials through fourth and short situations and also some fourth and long plays. Louisville also did some red zone work.
"Today was the first day of pads and what was good about it is that the offense came out and thought won the scrimmage," Strong said. "Yesterday, I kind of put it on the offense and asked them if they were going to come out and move the ball against the defense, which they were able to do. It was great to watch them run the football and run down hill."
The offense clearly won the scrimmage, converting on many of the situations. Darius Ashley, Jeremy Wright and Bilal Powell took the bulk of the carries and showed good power running behind the offensive line. Center Mario Benavides, guards Conrad Thomas and Mark Wetterer and tackles Greg Tomcyzk and Jeff Adams. The quarterbacks all rotated duriing the scrimmage.
"It was fourth down in the red zone and we just let guys know that on fourth down or third and short you've got to be able to stop people," Strong said. "The defense didn't do good at all but it was good to see the offense have success converting those short yardage situations."
Linebacker Brandon Heath made the play of the day for the defense, when he intercepted a pass intended for Cameron Graham in the end zone.
The Cardinals started practice with the "Circle of Life," a toughness drills with the offense going head-to-head versus the defense.
"We're always going to do a toughness drill," Strong said. "That's what it's all about. The game of football is just toughness. The guys got to circle up and go one on one. That's what we needed. We need that in the program right now."
The Cardinals are off until Monday when they hit the practice fields at 4:00 p.m.
